Welcome to our very first story built collaboratively with you—the photographers of Your Shot. This is a new feature we are launching and as with anything new, there will be a learning curve. The idea is fairly simple: We ask for photos centered around a certain theme. You share your best images for that narrative. We curate and build a story.

We'd like to thank the Your Shot members who shared assignment photos and the stories behind them, and provided feedback for this initial story. We asked for photos that showed us what everyday exploration looked like and received terrific submissions.

Let us know what you think—we'd love to hear your thoughts for making this feature better, including assignment suggestions. Our intention is to tell amazing stories filled with incredible photography—stories that will help us get to know each other and the world we live in.

We look forward to exploring the next chapter of Your Shot with you!

Walking around a lake, I wanted to photograph the swans, but they were far away. I waited for a w...

Searching for symmetry in nature can be addictive—once you've seen it, you start to look for it everywhere. Reflections are a fun way to achieve this effect, but the time of day and the weather are key factors in whether you'll succeed in getting the perfect shot.

I always love poking around at the seashore, looking for shells and rocks. On this particular day...

Urban settings offer surprises around every corner—you never know who or what you are going to see. A tight composition can increase a photo’s impact and immediacy. Be aware of what’s in the frame and don't rely on cropping to compose the shot after the fact.

Sirius the most brilliant star in the sky over an old country barn. This was in November during t...

The world is a very different place once the sun goes down. Think about what you’ll need on a nighttime exploration and make sure you are prepared and armed with the proper tools such as camera len... More

Monica C. CorcoranDirector, Your Shot

National Geographic has been exploring and documenting the planet for 125 years and counting. Some things change rapidly and others at a snail's pace—that's why we need all of our eyes on what is happening to our planet on a daily basis. Keep sharing your corner of the world with us and we'll do the same. Now get out there and explore!